Merlin’s Magic Wand opens in New York area
BY JEAN SHEFF
Merlin’s Magic Wand Foundation,
a public charity that works to bring
magic into the lives of seriously ill,
disabled, and disadvantaged children
worked in partnership with LEGOLAND
Discovery Center Westchester
and ACDS in Scarsdale, a preschool
serving children with developmental
disabilities, to design and create
a magic room inside ACDS that is devoted
to occupational therapy for children
with special needs.
“The children have been anticipating
the opening of the room and are so
excited,” says Michelle Meyerhoffer
an occupational therapist at ACDS.
She was right. As soon as they entered
the space, 20 students spotted the 5,000
DUPLO bricks and started building
with some serious abandon.
“The room meets the needs of our
preschoolers ages 3 to 5 in developing
fi ne motor tasks,” says Meyerhoffer.
“We are delighted that it will enable us
to facilitate much-needed therapy services
in an engaging environment.”
Meyerhoffer pointed out the tools
and features available to the teachers
and students. A large magnetic puzzle
board mounted on one wall enhances
children’s vertical grasping skills, and
the large LEGO pieces help children develop
fi ne and gross motor skills. Moving
partitions allow teachers to work
individually or in small groups with
more privacy. The cloud-shaped lighting
fi xtures offer soft lighting and the
bright graphic walls are inspiring.
Meyerhoffer was delighted that
BRONX ARTS & SCIENCE CHARTER SCHOOL
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LEGOLAND Discovery Center
Westchester asked for input from the
teachers when they were designing
the space. “It was a wonderful experience,”
she says. Through their collaboration
the seating was modifi ed. “Seating
is especially important for our
children as they generally have low
muscle tone,” she added.
General manager of LEGOLAND
Discovery Center Westchester, Chris
Mines, was pleased to bring some of the
magic of LEGOLAND’s DUPLO village
to the school. “The space was designed
to give the children a taste of what
they could experience at LEGOLAND
Westchester in a sensory-friendly environment,”
he says. “It’s been a great
project to work on. We are committed
to working with and being an integral
part of the local community.”
Michael M. Smith, executive director
of ACDS, says the preschool
opened in September 2016 at 963 Scarsdale
Road in a school formerly run by
the Archdiocese. “We had two classes
and 12 children enrolled,” says Smith.
“Now the school services 145 children
in 15 classes.” Children arrive
at ACDS through school district preschool
education programs. Currently
ACDS serves school districts in Southern
Westchester including Yonkers,
New Rochelle, Port Chester, and Mt.
Vernon. ACDS employs some 75 people
in Scarsdale and the school day runs
from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through
Friday, year-round. While ACDS adheres
to the same holiday and vacation
schedule as the local school districts,
they are open during the summer
months to prevent learning backslide
for the children.
The school’s main campus in Plainview,
Long Island opened in 1966.
ACDS (Adults and Children with
Down Syndrome) historically served
the population affected by Down syndrome,
but they have since broadened
their scope and now serve those with a
wide variety of disabilities.
It was Megan Lombardo, a grant
writer for ACDS, who approached
Tracie Hogencamp, Merlin’s Magic
Wand operations manager USA, with
the concept of a Merlin’s Magic Space
in ACDS. “We are delighted to be involved
in creating this therapeutic
play space,” says Hogencamp. “This is
the 46th Merlin’s Magic Space globally,
the eighth in the United States and the
fi rst in the Northeast.”
In addition to creating Merlin’s
Magic Spaces, the charity works alongside
Merlin Entertainments throughout
the United States to host Magical
Days Out and community outreach.
“When I fi rst saw the room the walls
were cinder block and beige – we just
don’t do beige,” says Hogencamp with
a smile.
The LEGOLAND Discovery Center
room at ACDS is a real partnership,”
says Smith. And it was clear the
involvement on everyone’s part was
heartfelt. Tiana Jones, whose 2-yearold
son Cooper attends the ACDS Plainview
school, was on hand to celebrate
the new space. “This space is
beyond my wildest dreams, “ says
Jones. “It’s wonderful to see people focusing
on children’s abilities rather
than their disabilities.” It appears
parents, teachers, and the children
agree. It’s a joyful, inspiring, and
magical space.
Students at ACDS, a preschool for children with disabilities, enjoy creating with LEGO’s
through the support of Merlin’s Magic Wand and LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester.
Photo courtesy of LEGOLAND
Michelle Meyerhoffer, an occupational therapist, works with students at the opening of the
ACDS LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester room. Photo courtesy of LEGOLAND
Please be advised that the
Bronx Arts & Science Charter School
will hold its monthly board meetings at 6PM
on the first Monday of each month
starting in March, 2019
915 HUTCHINSON RIVER PKWY, BRONX, NY 10465